Pyrotechnic fire extinguisher



June 8 1926.

R. KAUCH ET AL PYROTECHNIC FIRBEXTINGUISHER Filed March 29. l923 Ill.

Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,588,234 PATENT oFrIcE.

ROBERT KA UGH AND CHARLES L. PAULUS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

PYROTECHNIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed March 29, 1923. Serial No. 628,590.

This invention relates to a pyrotechnic fire extinguisher. i

The object of the present invention 1s to produce a fire extinguisherembodying 1n 6 connection with a suitable container, means for closingthe end portions of the container when not in use with fluid tightjoints, 'a pyrotechnic means for exerting the necessary pressure inconjunction with a suitable plunger for rupturing the container andsealing means and thereby expressing the fire extinguishing fluid fromthe container.

Before the p otechnic means is put in operation by sultable firingmeans, the container is absolutely fluid tight so that no part of thefire extinguishing fluid may escape therefrom. When the pyrotechnicmeans is put in operation, a plunger is actuated lengthwise of thecontainer and by reason of the pressure exerted upon the fireextinguishing fluid, the discharge end closure is ruptured or punctured,thus permitting the outflow of the fire extinguishing.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inthenovel construction, combination and arrangement herein shown, describedand claimed. I

Figure 1 is. a diametrical longitudinal section through my improved fireextinguisher. Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the structure of mypiston and retaining cup.

The improved fire extinguisher -com prises a container 1 for the fireextinguishing fluid, liquid or other agent used. The

container 1 may be of any required-diameter, length and containingcapacity. Preferably the container 1 is of cylindrical form andprimarily open at both ends. Ad-

jacent to its rear end, the container 1 is somewhat flared or enlargedand formed with an internal tapering or conical face or seat 2 againstwhich is placed the cupped peripheral portion of diaphragm 3 formedpreferably of some light, easily ruptured metal, although othermaterials may be used in lieu thereof. Within the same end of thecontainer 1 there isinserted a cup shaped holder 4 having an externallybeveled" end portion 5 which bears tightly against the inner surface ofthe cupped portion of the diaphragm 3 to hold said diaphragm firmly inplace with a fluid tight joint.

The holder 4 is formed with a flanged or reduced opening 6, into andthrough which is inserted the pyrotechnic means consisting of acartridge or shell 7 of easily frangible material such as paper, andcontaining a charge of powder WhlC-h upon being ignited will create agas within the cup 4 for a purpose which will presently appear. Mountedwithin the cup 4 is a plunger or movable piston 8 which is corrugated asshown at 9 to 'Ve the same the necessary strength. The edge portion ofthe plunger 8 is brought to a knife edge as shown at 10 and such knifeedge is preferably scalloped-as indicated at 11. When the cartridge 7 isignited the pressure of the gas generated thereby causes the plunger 8to move toward the opposite end of the container 1 and the shearing edgeof said plunger cuts through'the diaphragm 3 Arranged behind the cup 4is a sealing is thus detachable from the container forms a mounting fora centrally arranged firing pin or striker 18, having at its outer end aknob 19 against which the operator strikes his hand in firing thecartridge or shell 7.

The opposite end of the container 1 is closed by a deformable diaphragm20 formed with annular corrugations 21 as shown, to enable the same tobe more readily deformed when pressure thereon is exerted by the fluidin the container 1. The peripheral portion of the diaphragm 20 is cuppedas shown and seated against the externally beveled face 22 at theadjacent end of the container 1. The cap 23 is threaded upon thedischarge end of the container 1 and formed with an internally beveledseat 24 which bears against the periphery of the diaphragm 20 andconfines the same in place with a fluid tight joint. The cap 23 isformed with an inwardly extending nozzle 25, terminating in a puncturingpoint 26,

adapted to puncture a hole in the diaphragm 20 when the latter ispressed against and over the point 26. A bifurcated outlet passage 27extends through the' nozzle 25 and the cap 23 so that when the diaphragm20 container as shown at 17. The cap 16 which is punctured, the fireextinguishing fluid creates a pressure in the shell 4 behind the plunger8, driving the plunger forward.

I This immediately ruptures and displaces the diaphragm 3 which iscarried forward by the plunger. The pressure is now transmitted to thefire extinguishing fluid ln the container 1 and this brings about the.necessary deformation of the diaphragm I and also the cup shaped holder4. It is to cause the same to be punctured by the point 26- of thenozzle 25. Thereupon the passage 27 is uncovered and the contents of thecontainer 1 are discharged by the con- 4 tinued pressure exerted in therear of and against the plunger 8 by the gas generated by the cartridge7.

It will be readily understood that new diaphragms 3,12 and 20'may besubstituted when refilling the container 1 This is accomplished byremoving the caps 16 and 23 convenient to first replace all of the partsat the rear, end of the container, then refill the container through theopposite or discharge end', after which a new diaphragmv 20 is insertedin place and the end cap 23 finally screwed into place.

" We claim: I

. 1 In a device of the classy described, a main casing, a fluid tightdiaphragm in said casing, a fluid chamber in said casing, an expressingplunger, said diaphragm normally separating said fluid from saidplunger, and

means for actuating said plunger to rupture the diaphragm and exert anexpelling force on said flui i 2-. In a container of the classdescribed, a

x fluid tight deformable diaphragm at the discharge end thereof, asecond diaphragm inI said container, said diaphragms and the walls ofthe container defining a fluid cham her, an expressing plunger in saidcontainer ad acent to said second diaphragm, and

- means for actuating said plunger to'rupture both said diaphra s -andexert an expelhng force on the uid.

3. In a fire extinguisher, a casing, a fluid diaphragm.

I tures.

tight deformable diaphragm at the discharge end of the casing, a seconddiaphragm in said container, sa id diaphragms and the I ond nameddiaphragm.

4. In a fire extinguisher, a fire extinguishing fluid container, a fluidtight deformable diaphragm at the discharge end thereof, a

second fluid tight diaphragm in the opposite end portion of thecontainer, a plunger arranged behind the second named diaphragm andhaving means to shear the same, pyrotechnic means for actuating saidplunger, and means for puncturing the first named diaphragm, including aremovable cap for the discharge end of the container, and a dischargenozzle on said cap having a pointed projection to puncture the firstnamed diaphragm. 5. In a fire extinguisher, a fire extinguishing fluidcontainer, a fluid tight deformable diaphragm at the discharge endthereof, a

second fluid tight diaphragm in the opposite end portion of thecontainer, a plun er arranged behind the second named diap agm 4 andhaving means to shear the same, pyrotechnic means for actuating saidplunger, a cup shaped holder for the pyrotechnic means and means forpuncturing the first named diaphragm. I

6. In a fire extinguisher, a fire extinguishing fluid container, a fluidtight deformable diaphragm at the discharge end thereof, a secondfluid-tight diaphragm in the opposite end portion of the container, aplungerarranged behind the second named diaphragm and having means toshear the same, pyrotechnic means for actuating said plunger, a cupshaped holder for the pyrotechnic means, a sealing diaphragm behind saidholder, a cap fitted to the adjacent end of the container to hold saidsealing diaphragm inglace, firing means supported by said cap, an

means for puncturing the first named In testlmony whereof we aflix" oursigna- ROBERT KAUCH. J CHARLES L. PAULUS;

